How To Get a Job in Australia

Australia welcomes new migrants with valuable skills and qualifications, however searching for employment will be a challenge. It is important to be realistic and understand that you may not be able to find your 'dream job' straight away.

Dos and Don'ts

It is never easy searching for a job from overseas. Here is a summary of the do's and don'ts for overseas jobseekers in the Australian employment market place.

Do

Do visit the various Australian job websites BEFORE deciding to emigrate to familiarise yourself with the job opportunities in your field.

Do check eligibility and, where possible, apply for your permanent residence visas. Very important. Prospective employers will ask about your immigration status and having your residence visas (or at least being knowledgable about the application process) is a "prerequisite" for many Australian job vacancies.

Do start applying for advertised job vacancies from OVERSEAS, but only 1 to 12 weeks before a possible start date or a visit to Australia.

Do send a cold letter of application and C.V. to EVERY potential employer and recruitment agent in the region of Australia you intend settling in to let them know that you are available. Use www.yellowpages.com.au to locate details.

Do prepare your C.V. in the Australian style and write a short but clear covering letter indicating your visa status.

Do provide an Australian postal address and Australian mobile/email address in your C.V. where possible.

Tell employers you are available for skype webcam or face-to-face interviews.

Do make a positive impression in the interview, be flexible and have copies of your residence visas and references available for employers to sight.

Don't

Don't apply for job vacancies OR visit Australia for job interviews more than 1 - 12 weeks away from a possible start date. Employers may not be interested.

Don't expect everything to work like home. Be flexible and willing to fit in with local ways of doing things.

Don't expect a job at the same level or higher than you had overseas. You may lack Australian local knowledge and may need to take a step back in order to advance later. Wait one year.

Don't expect the same salary or more than you had overseas. The cost of living and income tax rates are lower in Australia than some other western developed nations, so look at your NET INCOME not the gross amount

Don't expect a job offer in the first week. On average, it can take local resident Australians 1 – 8 weeks or longer to find a new job.

Don't "over negotiate" the contract with your first employer. Be flexible and under-stand that employment law and contract terms may be different in Australia